Watch the Navy's LOCUST Launcher Fire Off a Swarm of Autonomous Drones

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Last year, the Navy announced the Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology (LOCUST) program, a plane to build a launcher that could first dozens of drones out of a tube to create a vicious swarm designed to "autonomously overwhelm an adversary."

A recent video posted to YouTube by U.S. Navy Research shows the latest demo from last month, in which the launchers just effortlessly throw a swarm of nine into the air with a serious of thwunks. It's both understated and impressive.

While the U.S. military has been utilizing large, single drones for years now, its future sights seem to be set on the potential for swarms of small, inexpensive, and expendable drones. The LOCUST system here is clearly meant for deployment from the ground or a ship, but both the Air Force and the Navy have been investigating the idea of air-launched drones and, by extension, the future motherships that might carry these little fliers as one of their primary weapons.

How these swarms actually fight, and how they will be armed, is still unknown, but it seems every more likely that little fliers like these are the future of warfare.

It's not about the camo per se, it's more about having a good durable working clothes for outdoors work. Although I agree the camo is stupid. The only thing it can hide is probably paint stains.

If the Navy wanted good durable work clothes, I think it will be better if they use a jumpsuit-type outer uniforms to be worn over normal clothes if only there is any outdoor work to be done. Even the US Navy is starting to realize how stupid their own NWU are.

Thoughts: Spike ATGM is estimated at about $125,000 per launcher and $80,000 per missile, about half the price of US Javelin and comparable to AT-14 Kornet which is $800,000 for 1 launcher and 10 missiles.

The initial buy of 275 launchers and 5,500 missiles would cost about $ 474.4 million of the $1b package. The license-built sets seem to incur a fee of about 20% of list price making up the rest of the contract. If spread evenly through the army the total buy of 1,800 launchers is about 4-5 launchers each battalion, replacing the Carl Gustavs they currently use.

MOSCOW, May 26 /TASS/. Russia and China have started their first joint computer anti-missile defense exercises Aerospace-Security-2016, a source at the Russian Defense Ministry press service told journalists on Thursday.

"In compliance with a decision made by the Russian Defense Ministry and China’s Ministry of National Defense, Russia and China are conducting the first joint Russian-Chinese computer-enabled command-staff anti-missile defense exercises "Aerospace Security-2016" at the scientific research center of Russian Aerospace Defense Forces. The exercise will last until May 28," the Russian Defense Ministry source said.

The Defense Ministry explained that the exercises’ main goal was to drill joint maneuvers and operations of rapid reaction anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense units of Russia and China in a bid to defend the territory from occasional and provocative strikes by ballistic and cruise missiles.

"This joint exercise is not directed against any third country," the Russian Defense Ministry stressed.

"The Russian and Chinese sides will use the results of the exercises to discuss proposals on Russian-Chinese military cooperation in the field of anti-missile defense," the press service added.

Here are the Russian planes intercepted by Belgian F-16s over the Baltics

The images in this post were taken by the Belgian Air Force during their latest rotation of support to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission.

Flying out of Amari Air Base, Estonia, the Belgian F-16 jets augmented the Lead Nation Spain’s Eurofighter Typhoon jets from January to April 2016.

The aircraft were often launched to intercept and escort Russian planes flying over the Baltics. Among them, Su-27 Flanker , Tu-134AK, Il-76, An-72 and also an An-12PPS.

The An-12PPS “Cub-D” is a jamming variant of the Antonov medium military transport.

According to “Russia’s Warplanes, Volume 1” by Piotr Butowski published by Harpia Publishing , one of the most authoritative sources on Russian-made military aircraft and helicopters today and set to become the standard reference work on the subject, the Russian Air Force operates several standoff ECM aircraft based on the standard An-12 airframe. Their task is to provide jamming cover to formation of transport aircraft carrying airborne troops by disguising the heading and composition of the formation during assault missions behind the front line.

Actually, the RF-90787 “19 Red” depicted in the photos taken by the BAF pilots lacks the most interesting equipment carried by the few An-12PPS aircraft: the Siren-D active jammer, usually mounted in four cigar-shaped pods, two under the forward fuselage and one on each side of the tailfin base. Still, it features another Cub-D’s distinctive feature: the SPS-100 Rezeda self-protection jammer built into the aircraft’s tail in lieu of the tail gunner’s turret.

According to “Russia’s Warplanes, Volume 1” only a few such aircraft are currently in Russian Air Force service at Orenburg and Akhtubinsk.

US special operations forces photographed in Syria wearing the insignia of Kurdish troops considered terrorists by Turkey have been ordered to remove the patches

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Questions, however, have been raised about whether the commandos, pictured close to the front lines with the Islamic State (IS), may be more involved in the SDF's push towards IS's de facto capital, Raqqa

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The YPG patches that some of the commandos are seen wearing in the photos have, in turn, increased US-Turkey tensions

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“It is unacceptable that an ally country is using the YPG insignia," said Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister. "We advise them to wear badges of Daesh or the Nusra Front when they go to other parts of Syria and badges of Boko Haram when they go to Africa."

TUCSON, May 27 (UPI) -- Small and lethal loitering airborne systems are to be jointly developed by Raytheon and Israel's UVision for U.S. military requirements.

The first system for the Army's Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile Systems capability will be UVision's Hero-30 manpack, canister-launched system, which will be modified for lethal engagement, Raytheon said.

"Raytheon and UVision will offer U.S. Army small units a new capability with a fully-developed, portable, lethal loitering system," said Dr. Thomas Bussing, Raytheon vice president of Advanced Missile Systems. "This system significantly enhances the situational awareness and combat power of small units operating on the battlefield."

The electric-powered Hero-30 comes in several variants. The smallest has a 30-minute endurance and features an electro-optical/infrared sensor.

"The Hero-30 plays a significant role for ground forces regardless of the operating environment," said Noam Levitt, UVision chief executive officer. "Our partnership with Raytheon provides valuable battlefield intelligence and the capability to directly engage enemy threats when necessary."

This week, the US Navy announced that construction has begun on a modified version of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft – a high-speed hybrid between a jet and a helicopter that can reach speeds of 351 MPH – to perform carrier onboard delivery (COD) missions to move forces, supplies and weapons to forward-stationed ships

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The Navy looks to replace their 35 Cold War-era C-2 Greyhound aircraft, a twin-engine, high-wing cargo plane first introduced in the 1960s, by procuring 44 new CMV-22B Ospreys for COD missions

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Presently, the Navy requires a deck-mounted catapult to propel a C-2 off of a carrier, increasing COD risk and cost

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The new Navy Osprey will possess a longer range than the Marine Corps version, with the ability to travel an additional 200 nautical miles before requiring refueling

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"The Navy’s operational range requirement for the Carrier Onboard Delivery mission is 1,150 nautical miles. This is required to provide long range aerial logistics support of the Seabase, and reflects an increase of approximately 200 nautical miles to the baseline MV-22B,"

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Slated to be operational in 2021, the Navy Osprey variant will perform the same missions currently executed by C-2s, including transport, humanitarian relief and food deliveries, as well as supplying spare parts and equipment for sailors aboard carriers. Also, the aircraft will be modified to mimic the reconfigurable cargo bay of the C-2 aircraft, with space for 12 stretchers

are the M113s still worth anything these days?I thought even during Vietname era, crews would prefer to sit outside than inside in fear of RPGs

Some countries still uses the M113 variants. Anyway the Belgium's M113A1-B were built from 1982 to 1988.

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The M113A1-B is the Belgian version of the M113 armored vehicles, with the "B" denoting "Belgium". They were made in Belgium by the Belgian Mechanical Fabrication (BMF) Company. Although designated as an "A1", they are actually very much more similar to the US M113A2 version than the older M113A1.

Modifications made by the Belgians include using the same suspension as the US M113A2, and nuclear-biological chemical (NBC) protection, among others. They were built from 1982 to 1988, which means that these vehicles are actually newer than the US-made M113A2.

Malaysia will punish navy personnel who beat up Filipino fishermen near a reef in the West Philippine Sea, the top foreign affairs official in Manila has said.

"The Malaysian government regrets the incident. They have informed us they are already in the process of the punishments for the people who did it. In any form, whether agitated or not, beating up is not acceptable," Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Rene Almendras said, GMA News reported.

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) earlier said it was investigating if Philippine fishermen were detained and harassed by its personnel near the reef which Philippines claims as its own.

Malaysia has also expressed willingness to offer compensation for the three Philippine fishermen who were arrested by a Malaysian patrol team on May 9, the report said.

The fishermen were approaching Commodore Reef, which is claimed by Philippines but the navy personnel accused them of encroaching into Malaysian territory.

The Royal Malaysian Navy said the fishermen used two vessels to sail into Gugusan Semarang Peninjau.

The main boat responded to RNM's call to hand over the documents but one of the crew members jumped into the sea to avoid arrest. The RMN's Team Menggeladah somehow managed to save the individual.

The RMN said it allowed the three crew members to return to their main boat after the checks were completed. However, the crew members claimed they were treated badly. They also said their small boat was sunk.

The Manila Times reported on May 23 that the crew members complained they were handcuffed, kicked and punched during their brief detention.

The Russian effort is a vast and a complex one, and it covers almost every aspect of Russian force planing, but there are four examples which, I think, best illustrate the Russian determination not to allow a 22 June 1941 to happen again:

* The re-creation of the First Guards Tank Army (in progress)

* The deployment of the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system (done)

* The deployment of the Sarmat ICBM (in progress)

* The deployment of the Status-6 strategic torpedo (in progress)

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The re-creation of the First Guards Tank Army

Russia has officially announced that the First Guards Tank Army (a formation with a prestigious and very symbolic history). This Guards Tank Army will now include the 4th “Kantemirov” Guards Tank Division, the 2nd “Taman” Guards Motorized Rifle Division, the 6th Tank Brigade, the 27th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade Sevastopol and many support units. This Army’s HQ will be located in the Odinstovo suburb of Moscow. Currently the Army is equipped with T-72B3 and T-80 main battle tanks, but they will be replaced by the brand new and revolutionary T-14 Armata tank while the current infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers will be replaced by the new APC and IFV. In the air, these armored units will be protected and supported by Mi-28 and Ka-52 attack helicopters

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the Russians could even augment the 1TGA to a type of 21st century “Shock Army” with increased mobility and specializing in breaking deep into the enemy’s defenses

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The deployment of the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system

The new Iskander-M operational tactical missile system is a formidable weapon by any standard. While technically it is a short-range tactical missile (under 1000km range, the Iskander-M has an official range of 500km), it can also fire the R-500 missile has the capability of striking at an intermediate/operational range (over 1000km, the R-500 has a range of 2000km). It is extremely accurate, it has advanced anti-ABM capabilities, it flies at hypersonic speeds and is practically undetectable on the ground (see here for more details). This will be the missile tasked with destroying all the units and equipment the US and NATO have forward-deployed in Eastern Europe and, if needed, clear the way for the 1TGA.

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The deployment of the Sarmat ICBM

Neither the 1TGA nor the Iskander-M missile will threaten the US homeland in any way. Russia thus needed some kind of weapon which would truly strike fear into the Pentagon and White House in the way the famous RS-36 Voevoda (aka SS-18 “Satan” in US classification) did during the Cold War. The SS-18, the most powerful ICBM ever developed, was scary enough. The RS-28 “Sarmat” (SS-X-30 by NATO classification) brings the terror to a totally new level

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The Sarmat is nothing short of amazing. It will be capable of carrying 10-15 MIRVed warheads which will be delivered in a so-called “depressed” (suborbital) trajectory and which will remain maneuverable at hypersonic speeds. The missile will not have to use the typical trajectory over the North Pole but will be capable of reaching any target anywhere on the planet from any trajectory

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The Sarmat will also be capable of delivering conventional Iu-71 hypersonic warheads capable of a “kinetic strike” which could be used to strike a fortified enemy target in a non-nuclear conflict. This will be made possible by the amazing accuracy of the Sarmat’s warheads which, courtesy of a recent Russian leak, we now know have a CEP of 10 meters

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The Sarmat’s silos will be protected by a unique “active protection measures” which will include 100 guns capable of firing a “metallic cloud” of forty thousand 30mm “bullets” to an altitude of up to 6km. The Russians are also planning to protect the Sarmat with their new S-500 air defense systems. Finally, the Sarmat’s preparation to start time will be under 60 seconds thanks a a highly automated launch system

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The deployment of the Status-6 strategic torpedo

Do you remember the carefully staged “leak” in November of last year when the Russians ‘inadvertently’ showed a super dooper secret strategic torpedo on prime time news? Here is this (in)famous slide:

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What is shown here is an “autonomous underwater vehicle” which has advanced navigational capabilities but which can also be remote controlled and steered from a specialized command module. This vehicle can dive as deep as 1000m, at a speed up to 185km/h and it has a range of up to 10’000km. It is delivered by specially configured submarines.

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The Status-6 system can be used to target aircraft carrier battle groups, US navy bases (especially SSBN bases) and, in its most frighting configuration, it can be used to deliver high-radioactivity cobalt bombs capable of laying waste to huge expanses of land. The Status-6 delivery system would be a new version of the T-15 torpedo which would be 24m long, 1,5m wide weigh 40 tons and capable of delivering a 100 megaton warhead which would make it twice as powerful as the most powerful nuclear device ever detonated, the Soviet Czar-bomb (57 megatons). Hiroshima was only 15 kilotons.

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Keep in mind that most of the USA’s cities and industrial centers are all along the coastline which makes them extremely vulnerable to torpedo based attacks (be it Sakharov’s proposed “Tsunami bomb” or the Status-6 system). And, just as in the case of the Iskander-M or the Sarmat ICBM, the depth and speed of the Status-6 torpedo would make it basically invulnerable to incerception

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Evaluation:

There is really nothing new in all of the above, and US military commanders have always known that. All the US anti-ballistic missile systems have always been primarily a financial scam, from Reagan’s “Star Wars” to Obama’s “anti-Iranian ABM”. For one thing, any ABM system is susceptible to ‘local saturation': if you have X number ABM missile protecting a Y long space against an X number of missiles, all that you need to do is to saturate only one sector of the Y space with *a lot* of real and fake missiles by firing them all together through one small sector of the Y space the ABM missile system is protecting. And there are plenty of other measures the Russians could take. They could put just one single SLBM capable submarine in Lake Baikal making it basically invulnerable. There is already some discussion of that idea in Russia. Another very good option would be to re-activate the Soviet BzhRK rail-mobile ICBM.

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As I have written many times, Russians are very afraid of war and they will go out of their way to avoid it. But they are also ready for war. This is a uniquely Russian cultural feature which the West has misread an innumerable number of time over the past 1000 years or so. Over and over again have the Europeans attacked Russia only to find themselves into a fight they would never have imagined, even in their worst nightmares. This is why the Russians like to say that “Russia never starts wars, she only ends them”.

Is there radar that can detect speedboats that the kidnappers and Suluk use?

a true dedicated mpa plus dozens if not hundreds of coastal radar

those speedboat isnt exactly the most easiest thing to look for and radar generally can detect them at 10-30km rangethats pretty close and with them usually having multiple engine motor they can cover that distance in minutes

are the M113s still worth anything these days?I thought even during Vietname era, crews would prefer to sit outside than inside in fear of RPGs

pipul not really using them nowadays just cuz they cant carry heavier stuff without sacrificing the space for infantrythe acv is just the needed evolution of the m113 to cater that very demand also with more armor and bigger engine

There are two reasons...the economy is expanding. Even if the defence budget is kept under 1 percent GDP, the budget still reach more than $8 billion a year....previously TNI could manage with only $5 billion a year; so there's surplus fund to purchase additional armaments. If Indonesia plans to invade someone, the defence budget could be raised to 4 percent GDP...equal to around $36 billion per year.

The second reason is to replace older equipments....Although these M113s are quite old, but they are already refurbished with new engine. TNI is using a similar number of tracked APC...AMX VCI, which is older

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I'm guessing those M113A1-B APCs are part of a package deal that includes the M109A4-BE SPH from Belgium.

The M113A1-B can be seen in the background with the Indonesian flag on it same as the M109A4-BE.

The Military Standard 1760 Internal Weapons Bay Upgrade (IWBU) program, the latest in a long line of upgrades to the B-52′s relatively ancient airframe, will allow the plane to carry ordinance inside the fuselage.

“The IWBU to the B-52H provides increased carriage capability for precision weapons to include the GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM),” said Capt. Kenny, a 96th Bomb Squadron instructor weapon systems officer said in a US Air Force Release.

“This new capability also extends our range by reducing the amount of drag that external weapons produce,” continued Kenny.

The IWBU will first rewire the plane to drop eight JDAMs from a conventional rotary launcher bomb bay, and then they’ll reconfigure the pylons to go from holding 12 to 16 JDAMs, nearly doubling the B-52′s capacity for these high tech bombs.

Previously B-52s were only able to drop unguided munitions, or “dumb bombs” from the weapons bay.

“The B-52’s pylons have had the capability to speak to the digital systems on precision weapons like JDAM for years, while the bomb bay remained analog and only capable of dropping unguided conventional weapons. That’s where the IWBU comes in.”

So, essentially the leopard's volume is mostly spaced armour ?So after real heavy combat, the leopards are suppose to look like a bunch of vehicles pounded by hammer than a solid piece of metal like the Abrams

So, essentially the leopard's volume is mostly spaced armour ?So after real heavy combat, the leopards are suppose to look like a bunch of vehicles pounded by hammer than a solid piece of metal like the Abrams

could be all the add on gear, thats why it looks so swollen and lumpy

see T-90 right, all the bits and pieces are sort of left outside, and they use 100s of ERA tiles, but on Western tanks they prefer clean lines and boxy add-on armour.

KARBALA, Iraq - The fight against the Islamic State group in Fallujah has been gathering pace in Iraq, with the Baghdad Command Centre reporting over 140 members of the group killed or injured on Saturday.

In spite of recent gains against IS, casualties from the military and paramilitary forces involved in the operation have continued to mount, with reports that up to 45 anti-IS fighters were killed in two separate car bombings on the outskirts of Fallujah on Saturday.

Hakim al-Assad, a volunteer with the Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Forces, was injured by an IS sniper in Fallujah on 24 May, and is now recuperating in the Imam Al-Hussein Medical City in Karbala, which has a section specifically designated for soldiers from the Iraqi army and volunteers with the Popular Mobilisation Units (PMUs).

Though a government budget crisis means the Medical City began charging patients in March, the PMUs and Iraq military soldiers are provided free healthcare at the facility.

Despite the obvious setbacks in the campaign he is involved in, Hakim was optimistic about the Fallujah operation and keen to rejoin the fighting once he has recuperated.

“It’s nearly over,” he said. “It’s nearly completely liberated.”

“God willing, after Fallujah, we’ll head up to Mosul,” he added, referring to the main IS stronghold in Iraq, which fell to the group in June 2014.

“Innovative…agile, redundant, resilient.” That’s how a grim faced Air Force Brig. Gen. Albert "Buck" Elton described ISIS to a crowd a couple thousand strong, including senior foreign special operations chiefs who are part of coalition fighting ISIS, and other violent extremists like al-Qaeda.

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“They are willing to fail multiple times,” said Elton, the deputy commanding general for the top U.S. military counterterrorist unit, the Joint Special Operations Command. “They are willing to accept tremendous losses to advance their cause.”

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It was a rare glimpse into the analysis that drives the elite hunting force better known as JSOC, whose counterterrorist mission is actually classified. JSOC is leading a motley crew of U.S. special forces of all stripes advising and sometimes fighting alongside local Kurdish and Arab militia in Syria, and Kurdish and Iraqi armies in Iraq against ISIS

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The Americans, Brits, French, Jordanians, Tunisians and more in these conference halls are in planning and action mode, meeting in smaller groups behind closed doors to share lessons learned, and figure out how to ratchet up the pressure against an enemy no one here underestimates.

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“They have quickly adapted their organization and their technologies, their tactics, techniques and procedures, their weapons, to take advantage of our constraints and limitations,” said JSOC deputy commander Elton, continuing his summation of what coalition forces are up against.

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“They hide in populated urban areas, communicate with leading edge encryption, executive effective mission command, and they develop affordable but lethal weapons, particularly explosives made from commercially available materials - improvised armor, and they are working on chemical and biological weapons,” he said, adding that they use surrogates and sabotage, cyber attacks, and even the tactic of providing local government where none else exists to extend their power.

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The JSOC-run “expeditionary targeting force” as it’s known has already taken out some 40 ISIS operatives linked to planning and facilitating overseas attacks, less than half of the ISIS fighters JSOC has removed from the battlefield. Strikes inside Iraq are done with the government of Iraq’s permission.

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“Our customer is the enemy,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold, who heads Air Force Special Operations Command. “The product we deliver is violence. And we have no problem delivering our product to our customer any time.”

Because of the thickness of the armor, all doors on an MRAP usually need to have power assistance to open or close. The problem is, when an MRAP hits something like a mine or IED, the power assistance, which is either electrical or hydraulic is sometimes damaged, so if that happens the soldiers inside can't get out through the doors. Compounding the problem is for the MRAP design to preserve the armor integrity of the unitary passenger capsule, an MRAP usually only one entry/exit point. (The armored passenger capsule of an MRAP is usually separate and independently suspended than the rest vehicle chassis to further protect the passengers from the shock of an explosion.)

This Is Bad — Only One in Three U.S. Navy Fighter Jets Are Ready for War — War Is Boring

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The U.S. Navy’s strike fighter squadrons are in dire straits with only one out of three Boeing F/A-18 Hornet airframes being ready for war at any given time

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Within the Navy, only one out of four Hornets is fully mission capable. “That one in four is currently deployed,”

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“The other three in four are the aircraft that are back in the maintenance phase or going through another FRP [fleet response plan].”

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Though cannibalization of operational Hornets is a last resort, such measures are now routine throughout the fleet, Stearns said. And it’s not just the legacy A through D model Hornets, the newer, more capable Super Hornets have also been suffering from a lack of spare spares over the last three years due to automatic sequestration budget cuts

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Part of the problem was caused by repeated delays to the Lockheed Martin F-35C Joint Strike Fighter — but also wartime usage of the Hornet fleet

If the pic above is from the same incident, I wouldn't call it 'obliterated'.

Passenger capsule seems not to be too severely damaged, it is still intact even. I'd bet money some of the soldiers inside survived even that huge blast. I also seriously doubt someone would invest 1 ton of explosive on a single IED, judging from the blast is probably 200-300kg worth instead.

If the pic above is from the same incident, I wouldn't call it 'obliterated'.

Passenger capsule seems not to be too severely damaged, it is still intact even. I'd bet money some of the soldiers inside survived even that huge blast. I also seriously doubt someone would invest 1 ton of explosive on a single IED, judging from the blast is probably 200-300kg worth instead.

If the pic above is from the same incident, I wouldn't call it 'obliterated'.

Passenger capsule seems not to be too severely damaged, it is still intact even. I'd bet money some of the soldiers inside survived even that huge blast. I also seriously doubt someone would invest 1 ton of explosive on a single IED, judging from the blast is probably 200-300kg worth instead.

PETALING JAYA: An Orang Asli ex-commando was cast into the social media spotlight when news surfaced of the man fighting off 10 robbers, while armed only with a machete.John Bah Tuin, a former commando who now runs the Cameron Highlands Rainforest Inn resort in Ringlet, Cameron Highlands, related his story to his friend and civil rights activist Siti Kasim, who promptly shared it on Facebook.

The incident happened on Saturday night as he was taking the Sungai Koyan highway, from Mensun to Ringlet, Siti later told FMT.“He stopped his car by the roadside to make a call when three cars blocked his.“These men asked him to get out and tried to rob him,” Siti wrote.“Unfortunately for these robbers, they took on the wrong man.”John, she said, is a “big, strong man.”“He took all of them on and being an Orang Asli, he carries a parang (machete) all the time.

“He used it against these men,” she wrote.John chopped off one of the men’s hands during the altercation, according to what he told Siti.He lodged a police report following the incident last night.“This is epic… one man against ten robbers. Some lost their hands,” Siti wrote.Siti urged John not to be stubborn and to have his injuries checked by a doctor, and later said that she had called the Ringlet police to look for him.“He was bleeding when he was talking to me.“He refused to go and see a doctor. I hope he is OK.”http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...off-10-robbers/She said she was unable to contact him for a while and was worried he had fainted.Her concerns were allayed later when she managed to reach John, who said he had “probably fallen asleep.”Netizens have hailed the incident as a “scene out of the action movies.”“Wow… Like a scene from Hollywood where the good guy triumphed!” commented Facebook user Lawrence Ng.“Sounds like a Tamil movie scene. Take care!!!” wrote Sarala Poobalan.

As part of a regular series of professional exchanges between the militaries of Singapore and Malaysia, students and staff from the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College recently visited 3rd Singapore Division in Jurong Camp.Our guests were introduced to the operational capabilities of the Singapore Army, and they had the opportunity to interact with our Soldiers serving full time national service. The visit underscores the strong ties between both armed forces, and is testament to the warm and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Malaysia.

Students from the Malaysian Army interacting with our Soldiers to understand more about the capabilities of the Light Strike Vehicle Mk II.

Students were also introduced to the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 Primus

Major Suthan Venkatachalam, the cohort's course leader at the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College, shared, "Through the static display, I've learned more about the organisation and its systems. Our two countries are just a step away, and we have had bilateral relations for so many years. I think it is important that we continue to maintain them through visits like these."

"Coming here to see the static display, I was interested in the modern equipment!" said Major Mohd Nasiruddin (left), specifically noting the flexibility of the Urban Operations Capability Enhancements and the Leopard 2SG.He also commended the national servicemen who were briefing the students at the various exhibits. "They are experienced and highly knowledgeable about what they have learnt in their National Service."

MAJ Shaun Chia (pictured far right) with his course mates from MAFSC.

MAJ Chia is amongst the 47 international students in this year's cohort at the MAFSC. "The college has a diverse population of students, and it's very good for us to build defence relations and network with everyone there. The local course participants have been friendly and hospitable, and it makes learning very enjoyable!"

Like I said earlier, most correctly designed MRAPs have a separate armored capsule for the crew and passengers. This capsule is has its own suspension system that structurally separates and 'floats' it above the vehicle chassis, this would dissipate a lot of the explosive shock damage by not transferring any shock damage sustained by the chassis directly onto the armored capsule.

The passenger seats are also suspended from the wall or ceiling of the capsule, not the floor as many armored vehicles are. This is to avoid the explosive shock from transferring directly from the capsule below onto the seat and the body of the soldier. Soldiers inside would also be strapped in secure seat harnesses at all times in the MRAP to avoid them bouncing around in the capsule and injuring themselves in the event of a IED or mine blast or the MRAP accidentally flipping over.

Interior view of the British Foxhound MRAP. Note all seats are bolted onto the walls to minimize shock transfer and the extensive seat harnesses keep the passengers secure inside their seats in the event of an IED or mine blast.

Contrast the above with this interior view of the Stryker APC. The seats (benches?) are bolted onto the floor, with no seat harnesses whatsoever for the passengers. Any explosive shock from an IED or mine blast under the APC would send the passengers flying up onto the ceiling.

Again, this only applies in a correctly-designed MRAP. I see some so-called MRAPs are nothing but uparmored transport trucks bolted with extra armor. Let's make it clear that these are not MRAPs. Designing MRAPs involves more precise science and engineering to protect the people inside. As long as the armored capsule stays intact, there is a higher chance of passengers surviving a lethal IED/mine blast in an MRAP than any other armored vehicle.

The video is said to have been posted on the German group Rheinmetall’s official YouTube channel, according to the website warspot.ru.

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The vehicle, according to the developers, is planned to become a serious competitor to Armata tanks, however if that is the case it will happen no earlier than 2030.

In fact, this model is a modernized version of the Leopard 2A4 using the modular technology. It should not only replace its predecessor in Germany, but also the Leclerc tank which is in service with the French army.

Rheinmetall group has been working on this project for six years now. The video is yet more proof of the achieved results.

The video shows the tank turret full of electronics. There is also a video guidance system that allows complete visibility. The dashboard gunner is also fully computerized.

The MBT Revolution seems like an exceptionally fast vehicle, according to the video.

The developers boast its system stabilization tools. When the tank is moving over rough terrain, the cannon remains almost motionless.

As explained by its developers, the MBT Revolution can adapt to any climatic conditions and can combat during both day and night.

I honestly don't mind....think of it as watching cloverfield......I'd just wish that the arabs stop using their favorite catch phrase when making these things....too over used.

Some don't mind, but Hollywood-style video shots and good cinematography propaganda vids can win you more potential martyrs than some shoddy shaky camera work that can't focus on the subject for more than 3 seconds. Also you can overdub the audio with more uplifting music.

Some don't mind, but Hollywood-style video shots and good cinematography propaganda vids can win you more potential martyrs than some shoddy shaky camera work that can't focus on the subject for more than 3 seconds. Also you can overdub the audio with more uplifting music.

Good view of the interior of the Chasieri First Win 4x4. I'd say this is what awaits our boys when they step into the Lipan Bara. Nice anti-spall liner.

Note the folding benches bolted onto the walls and the individual 4-point safety harnesses for the soldiers. I hope they do wear it all the time though. Malaysians are not known for their seat belt wear.

Also why there is a seat located in the middle of the aisle is beyond me, though. Seems the passenger compartment is cramped enough as it is.

Good view of the interior of the Chasieri First Win 4x4. I'd say this is what awaits our boys when they step into the Lipan Bara. Nice anti-spall liner.

Note the folding benches bolted onto the walls and the individual 5-point safety harnesses for the soldiers. I hope they do wear it all the time though. Malaysians are not known for their seat belt wear.

Also why there is a seat located in the middle of the aisle is beyond me, though. Seems the passenger compartment is cramped enough as it is.

I personally don't like this doctrine though. Soldiers who are transported comfortably on their way to combat aren't fatigued & stressed as much and make better fighters. The military have other priorities I guess.

Good view of the interior of the Chasieri First Win 4x4. I'd say this is what awaits our boys when they step into the Lipan Bara. Nice anti-spall liner.

Note the folding benches bolted onto the walls and the individual 4-point safety harnesses for the soldiers. I hope they do wear it all the time though. Malaysians are not known for their seat belt wear.

Also why there is a seat located in the middle of the aisle is beyond me, though. Seems the passenger compartment is cramped enough as it is.

that looks really nice. seat in the middle looks completely OP compared to the benches.

trouble with vehicles these days is the incremental cost of adding room for "just 1 more man" or giving a bit more elbow space, there's so much equipment on armoured vehicles now... guess in the end people would rather have the equipment and extra armor than sit comfortably but with less protection.

that looks really nice. seat in the middle looks completely OP compared to the benches.

trouble with vehicles these days is the incremental cost of adding room for "just 1 more man" or giving a bit more elbow space, there's so much equipment on armoured vehicles now... guess in the end people would rather have the equipment and extra armor than sit comfortably but with less protection.

Good view of the interior of the Chasieri First Win 4x4. I'd say this is what awaits our boys when they step into the Lipan Bara. Nice anti-spall liner.

Note the folding benches bolted onto the walls and the individual 4-point safety harnesses for the soldiers. I hope they do wear it all the time though. Malaysians are not known for their seat belt wear.

Also why there is a seat located in the middle of the aisle is beyond me, though. Seems the passenger compartment is cramped enough as it is.

I wonder why these MRAPs have firing ports for the infantry, though. Any sustained firing from the enclosed passenger compartment would quickly fill it with gun gases from their rifles and make breathing difficult. Unless they have an exhaust system for that firing ports are generally useless.

I wonder why these MRAPs have firing ports for the infantry, though. Any sustained firing from the enclosed passenger compartment would quickly fill it with gun gases from their rifles and make breathing difficult. Unless they have an exhaust system for that firing ports are generally useless.

better than nothing right? maybe the aircon system can keep up, as unlikely as that is rather choke on gas than die from bullets.

I wonder why these MRAPs have firing ports for the infantry, though. Any sustained firing from the enclosed passenger compartment would quickly fill it with gun gases from their rifles and make breathing difficult. Unless they have an exhaust system for that firing ports are generally useless.

at least it gives an option.. might be be suitable for sustained firing... that's not its role but when needed for a short fire fight at least got hole...

JAKARTA: Indonesia on Friday seized yet another Chinese vessel suspected of illegal fishing in waters off the coast of Natuna islands.

A press release from the Indonesian Armed Forces on Sunday (May 29) stated that the Indonesian frigate Oswald Siahaan 354 was patrolling the waters when it detected and intercepted the Chinese vessel Gui Bei Yu.

“We caught it, we were bringing it [the vessel] to Natuna when its engine broke down and we hauled it in with rope,” said Rear Admiral A. Taufiq R., Commander of the Indonesian Western Fleet.

Local media reports quoted Major Josdy Damopoli, a military spokesman for the Fourth Naval Base in Tanjung Pinang, Riau islands province, as saying that the Chinese coastguard stood by as Indonesian officials boarded the fishing vessel to apprehend its crew.

Eight people were reportedly apprehended in Friday’s incident.

Diplomatic tensions arose between Indonesia and China in March this year, when the two were involved in a standoff concerning a fishing vessel in waters off the coast of Natuna.

A Chinese trawler was captured over allegations of illegal fishing, while Beijing accused the country of attacking the ship on traditional Chinese fishing grounds. The incident was settled upon and written off as a ‘misunderstanding’ between the two countries.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, previously stated that the sovereignty of the Natunas belonged to Indonesia, and that China had no objections to this claim.

BAGHDAD: Elite Iraqi troops were poised on Sunday (May 29) to assault one of the Islamic State group's most emblematic bastions, Fallujah, as the militants counter-attacked in both Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

The fighting prompted a new exodus of thousands of desperate civilians and deep concern for the many more trapped in the battlegrounds.

The overall commander of the Fallujah operation, Abdelwahab al-Saadi, said on Saturday it was a matter of hours before the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) entered the city.

The week-old operation has so far focused on retaking villages and rural areas around Fallujah, which lies just 50 kilometres west of Baghdad.

"I won't tell you hours but the breach of Fallujah will happen very soon," Hadi al-Ameri, a senior commander in the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force, told Iraqi television.

CTS's involvement will mark the start of a phase of urban combat in a city where US forces in 2004 fought some of their toughest battles since the Vietnam War.

The militants were also under pressure from Kurdish fighters east of their northern Iraqi stronghold Mosul and from US-backed Kurdish-led fighters in Syria.

Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region on Sunday announced the launch of a pre-dawn offensive involving 5,500 peshmerga fighters to retake an area on the road between its capital Arbil and Mosul.

"This is one of the many shaping operations expected to increase pressure on ISIL (IS) in and around Mosul in preparation for an eventual assault on the city," the Kurdistan Region Security Council said in a statement.

Ten hours into the operation, which was launched a day after a wave of 12 coalition air strikes in the area, Kurdish forces had fully retaken three villages, it said.

In Syria, Kurdish rebels from the People's Protection Units (YPG) allied to Arab fighters and backed both on the ground and in the air by the US-led coalition, were targeting Raqa, IS's de-facto Syrian capital.

IS countered in both countries where they declared their "caliphate" in 2014, attacking non-militant rebels in Syria as well as the Iraqi town of Heet, which the army recaptured just last month.

"An attack by Daesh (IS) terrorists on several parts of Heet was thwarted ... Now the whole area is under control," the Joint Operations Command said in a statement.

SUICIDE BOMBER HITS CAFE

It said coalition aircraft targeted IS forces during the attack and added that pockets of militants remained.

"Daesh attacked Heet to ease the pressure on their fighters inside Fallujah, especially following the announcement that CTS had arrived," the statement said.

Northeast of Baghdad on Sunday, police said a suicide bomber killed at least seven people and wounded 22 when he blew himself up in a cafe in Moqdadiyah, in an attack claimed by IS.

In northern Syria, the militants have launched an offensive against the towns of Marea and Azaz that threatens to overrun the last swathe of territory in the east of Aleppo province held by non-militant rebels. It would also bring IS to the doorstep of the Kurdish enclave of Afrin.

As the fighting raged on multiple fronts, civilians were once again bearing the brunt of the conflict.

At least 29 civilians have been killed since IS began the assault in Aleppo province early on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. More than 6,000 civilians fled into the countryside, it said.

Northwest of Azaz, a senior nurse said late Saturday that a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was closed except for emergencies.

MSF said on Friday it was evacuating patients and staff from the hospital in Salamah town as it was just three kilometres from the front line.

In Iraq, only a few hundred families managed to slip out of the Fallujah area, with an estimated 50,000 people still trapped inside the city proper.

According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, around 3,000 people have managed to escape the Fallujah area since May 21.

The biggest wave so far arrived on Saturday night, NRC said, but a larger influx could be triggered when the urban battle between CTS and IS begins in earnest.

"Our resources in the camps are now very strained and with many more expected to flee we might not be able to provide enough drinking water for everyone," said Nasr Muflahi, NRC's Iraq director. "We expect bigger waves of displacement the fiercer the fighting gets."

at least it gives an option.. might be be suitable for sustained firing... that's not its role but when needed for a short fire fight at least got hole...

One more problem is most rifles are too long to be comfortably used through a firing port. The ports are usually so small that you have a very limited firing radius when you stick your gun barrel out the port.

You would only be limited to shoot at what's directly in front of you and what you can see from the firing ports themselves. Not to mention hot brass will fly around the compartment hitting other people.

Besides, if you're looking to shoot at something that's what a turret is for.

Local media reports quoted Major Josdy Damopoli, a military spokesman for the Fourth Naval Base in Tanjung Pinang, Riau islands province, as saying that the Chinese coastguard stood by as Indonesian officials boarded the fishing vessel to apprehend its crew.

One more problem is most rifles are too long to be comfortably used through a firing port. The ports are usually so small that you have a very limited firing radius when you stick your gun barrel out the port.

You would only be limited to shoot at what's directly in front of you and what you can see from the firing ports themselves. Not to mention hot brass will fly around the compartment hitting other people.

Besides, if you're looking to shoot at something that's what a turret is for.

depends on the rifle/weapon used... bullpup? fordable stock? carbine? grenade launcher? if you were to look at the design above, it is not meant to be shot from shoulder i guess, better to fire from waist while you lookout the window... well, not meant to really engage the enemy but to provide close fire... it has limited firing capabilities

yea, just in front... well, i guess that's why the top design have larger windows... hmm... at that height, hit at body ok, long sleeve with vest... wont feel a thing

turret can only engage 1 direction at a time, also due to its height and limited angle, it might not be able to engage close range combatants... so hence the side port i guess

not from mobile infantry or armour unit... so just guessing... when i get to operate from prv maybe can share more..

One more problem is most rifles are too long to be comfortably used through a firing port. The ports are usually so small that you have a very limited firing radius when you stick your gun barrel out the port.

You would only be limited to shoot at what's directly in front of you and what you can see from the firing ports themselves. Not to mention hot brass will fly around the compartment hitting other people.

Besides, if you're looking to shoot at something that's what a turret is for.

our AV4 does have a turret the brass is an issue. but the windows look nice and wide and AV4 is for police right? so MP5s or pistols which will be easier to use.

our AV4 does have a turret the brass is an issue. but the windows look nice and wide and AV4 is for police right? so MP5s or pistols which will be easier to use.takut Indon liao. There is a method to their madness!

then i dunno cukur we switch to M4 carbine which is light and short (er)but some say full spec m16 barrel more tahan lasak and 5.56mm is too weaksauce. how? (then again we have LMG, MGL and RPG in our section, shouldn't be as much of a problem )

then i dunno cukur we switch to M4 carbine which is light and short (er)but some say full spec m16 barrel more tahan lasak and 5.56mm is too weaksauce. how? (then again we have LMG, MGL and RPG in our section, shouldn't be as much of a problem )

I don't think shortening the barrel has any effect on its weakness. In fact modern barrels are more durable due to technological & metallurgical advances.

Having a shorter barrel does have an effect on the muzzle flash and report, though. But that is the consequence of having a shorter barrel rather than some inherent weakness in the barrel itself. As the NATO 5.56 round is specifically designed to be shot out of the standard long M16 barrel, the ammo powder is tailored for that barrel length. When the same 5.56 round is shot through a shorter barrel, the gases from the ammo powder doesn't have enough time to dissipate before the bullet exits the barrel.

Thus the round's explosive charge is still in full power when it exits the shorter barrel, creating a larger muzzle flash and report compared to when the round is shot out of the barrel length it is designed for ( the M16) where the explosive power has much dissipated the longer it travels down the longer barrel, leading to a smaller muzzle flash and quieter report.

they rammed the boat in the previous incident with smaller indonesian patrol boat. even few years ago they jammed indonesian small naval patrol and taken back their fishermans. if i'm not mistaken with KRI Hiu.

That's what will happen if you don't have big stick when you face them

QUOTE

Jakarta. The Indonesian Navy came close to another standoff with its Chinese counterpart on Friday (27/05) when it intercepted a Chinese fishing vessel in the waters off the Natuna Islands, a military spokesman said on Sunday.

Maj. Josdy Damopoli, a spokesman for the Fourth Naval Base in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands province, said the Indonesian frigate Oswald Siahaan 354 intercepted the fishing vessel Gui Bei Yu while a Chinese coastguard vessel stood by as officials boarded the fishing vessel to apprehend its crew.

Although acknowledging that the Natuna Islands belong to Indonesia, China has claimed the waters around it as its "traditional fishing grounds." On March 19, an Indonesian patrol boat intercepted a Chinese boat fishing illegally in Natuna's waters but a Chinese coastguard vessel intervened and prevented Indonesian officials from confiscating the boat.

The incident, which sparked diplomatic tensions between the two countries, was eventually shrugged off as "a misunderstanding."

Josdy said there have been two more incidents since March where Chinese coastguard vessels were seen patrolling the waters around the Natuna Islands as authorities pursued Chinese fishing vessels for illegally entering Indonesian territorial waters.

"At the time, the pursuit [of the fishing vessels] involved a tiny patrol boat belonging to the KKP [the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries]. But this time [the Chinese coastguard vessel] did not dare to interrupt because the chase involved a frigate," Josdy told Detik.com on Sunday.

The spokesman said eight people were arrested in Friday's operation. The fishing vessel tried to escape to international waters despite repeated radio contact and warning shots into the air and water. The boat eventually stopped after the Navy fired a final warning shot across its bows.

Since the March incident, Indonesia has been stepping up patrols in waters surrounding the Natuna Islands using bigger Navy ships and maritime ministry patrol boats to secure the area.

Technically it would be 2IC.the section leader would always be in the turret as V commander and then switch with the 2IC when dismounting hence the middle seat so it's easier for them to change for what ever reason

In the early 1980s, the Soviet Union’s Central Institute for Precision Machine Building — TsNIITochMash — developed the AS Val suppressed assault rifle and the derivative VSS sniper rifle specifically to outfit Russian special forces and intelligence agencies.

They’re both powerful weapons.

With more and more NATO troops wearing body armor, Russian special forces teams wanted a silent weapon that was also capable of penetrating armor — and could lay down enough fire for fast, violent raids targeting NATO command-and-control centers.

The resulting Val, with its integral suppressor, spurred the development of a whole family of suppressed weapons, including the VSS. The Soviets also designed two new nine-by-39-millimeter armor-piercing rounds — the SP-6 for suppressed assault rifles and the more-accurate SP-5 for suppressed sniper rifles such as the VSS.

The VSS shares approximately three-quarters of its parts with the AS Val, with some differences in stock furniture and the optics mounts. Both weapons are select-fire and have integral suppressors that feature a conventional ported barrel, expansion chamber and baffle system layout.

Both the AS Val and the VSS were ready for frontline use by 1987.

The AS Val and VSS proved to be very effective and remain in service with elements of the Russian army and special forces and Moscow’s intelligence and security forces. The suppressed rifles saw action during the last years of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and played prominent roles in the Chechen wars and the conflict in Georgia.

Most recently, they have seen action during Russia’s interventions in Crimea and Syria.

During the early 1990s, the Kremlin introduced the low-cost VSK-94 to supplement the AS Val and VSS. The VSK-94 is based on the 9A-91 carbine — and its suppressor is not integral.

I wonder why these MRAPs have firing ports for the infantry, though. Any sustained firing from the enclosed passenger compartment would quickly fill it with gun gases from their rifles and make breathing difficult. Unless they have an exhaust system for that firing ports are generally useless.

The HVAC system would filter the fumes aways but for the firing ports themselves, I dunno. Found no use for them.they say as a last resort thing in case the V was disabled and Terry was rushing the V.entah

that looks really nice. seat in the middle looks completely OP compared to the benches.

trouble with vehicles these days is the incremental cost of adding room for "just 1 more man" or giving a bit more elbow space, there's so much equipment on armoured vehicles now... guess in the end people would rather have the equipment and extra armor than sit comfortably but with less protection.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia may sign the first contract on the delivery of multipurpose amphibious Beriev Be-200 aircraft with Indonesia, President of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Yury Slyusar said Monday.

"We have noted a significant interest [in Be-200] from the foreign customers. Sadly, as for now, this interest has not transformed into real contracts. We hope that a contract for the delivery of planes with Indonesia will become one of the first technical cooperation contracts," Slyusar told journalists.

He added that the interest is due to the aircraft's uniqueness, since it is the only reactive amphibious aircraft in the world.

The Beriev Be-200 is well-suited for firefighting missions. It can take in up to 12.5 metric tons of water in a few seconds while traveling over the surface of the water and then drop its load onto a fire. The plane can be reconfigured for search-and-rescue operations or passenger flights.

Military Analysts concerned about the lost of the US conventional military technology advantages

The US Navy now believes it has a railgun design that soon will be able to fire 10 times a minute through a barrel capable of lasting 1,000 rounds.

Besides speed, the railgun also has a capacity advantage. A typical U.S. Navy destroyer can carry as many as 96 missiles—either offensive cruise missiles or defensive interceptors. A ship armed with a railgun could potentially carry a thousand rounds, allowing the vessel to shoot incoming missiles or attack enemy forces for longer periods and at a faster rate of fire.

The U.S. has kept its military dominance over the past quarter-century largely through such precision weaponry as guided missiles and munitions. It also has spent billions of dollars on interceptor-missile based defense systems to shoot down ballistic missiles fired at the U.S. or its allies.

That monopoly is about over. China is perfecting a ship-killing ballistic missile. Russia mostly impressed U.S. military planners with the power and precision of its cruise missiles deployed in Syria, and its improved artillery precision revealed in Ukraine.

“I am very worried about the U.S. conventional advantage. The loss of that advantage is terribly destabilizing,” said Elbridge Colby, a military analyst with the Center of a New American Security.

Defense planners believe the U.S. needs new military advances. Russia, for example, is believed to be developing longer-range surface-to-air missiles and new electronic warfare technology to blunt any forces near its borders.

Hitting a missile with a bullet is still a technical challenge. Railgun research leans heavily on commercial advances in supercomputing to aim and on smartphone technology to steer the railgun’s projectile using the Global Positioning System.

Missile defense by the railgun is at least a decade away, but Pentagon officials believe the weapon’s projectiles can be used much sooner. They are filled with tungsten pellets harder than many kinds of steel, officials said, and will likely cost between $25,000 and $50,000, a bargain compared with a $10-million interceptor missile.

I don't think shortening the barrel has any effect on its weakness. In fact modern barrels are more durable due to technological & metallurgical advances.

Having a shorter barrel does have an effect on the muzzle flash and report, though. But that is the consequence of having a shorter barrel rather than some inherent weakness in the barrel itself. As the NATO 5.56 round is specifically designed to be shot out of the standard long M16 barrel, the ammo powder is tailored for that barrel length. When the same 5.56 round is shot through a shorter barrel, the gases from the ammo powder doesn't have enough time to dissipate before the bullet exits the barrel.

Thus the round's explosive charge is still in full power when it exits the shorter barrel, creating a larger muzzle flash and report compared to when the round is shot out of the barrel length it is designed for ( the M16) where the explosive power has much dissipated the longer it travels down the longer barrel, leading to a smaller muzzle flash and quieter report.

heh? cant use a diff type of round with similar caliber? still using m16 surplus rounds meh? cant be what...

heh? cant use a diff type of round with similar caliber? still using m16 surplus rounds meh? cant be what...

What on earth do you mean? There's no such thing as 'M16 surplus rounds'. The 5.56mm NATO round IS the M16 round, it has always been so. All NATO weapons that use 5.56mm amo uses the M16's ammo. There are some specialist rounds like tracer, armor piercing or training ammo, but there is no such thing as "M16 rounds' or 'M4 rounds'. They are all the same.

What on earth do you mean? There's no such thing as 'M16 surplus rounds'. The 5.56mm NATO round IS the M16 round, it has always been so. All NATO weapons that use 5.56mm amo uses the M16's ammo. There are some specialist rounds like tracer, armor piercing or training ammo, but there is no such thing as "M16 rounds' or 'M4 rounds'. They are all the same.

I don't think the military has something like that, at least for general use. There may be something like that on the commercial market, but most probably if the military uses those, it'd be used by the special forces only, not normal infantry. I think all 5.56mm weapons use the SS109 M16 rounds.

“If you look closely at the armed conflicts around the world, the war is mainly in the cities now. No one is fighting in open fields anymore. In the city, and even in urban areas, fighting can be quite successful.”

QUOTE

To give the T-72 a new life, first of all it was important to increase its firepower: to establish a more effective fire gun using the ‘Sosna’ target system with a new regulator and an electromechanical drive.

QUOTE

It was important to use an upgraded 2A46M gun with a modified rocket fire autoloader. The new engine has a 1000HP engine and automatic gear change, just like the modern T-90S tanks.

QUOTE

“We have made this cabin with windows which give it all-round visibility, but most of it is closed, there is a bulletproof mechanism,”

QUOTE

The modernized T-72 tank is equipped with elements of electronic warfare that can interfere with the ammunition heading in its direction. Halitov also said that the militants are currently using radio-controlled missiles and it is necessary to extinguish their signals over a very wide range, which is particularly important in urban areas.

QUOTE

“We have installed equipment, which suppresses radio-controlled explosive devices. It has two antenna devices behind the tower and an apparatus that can suppress all signals going to the explosive mechanism,”

QUOTE

The upgraded T-72 tank equipped with a fire control system and a thermal imager will be shown for the first time to potential customers June 2 – 5 in Kazakhstan during the IV exhibition, KADEX 2016, in Astana.

Kurdish Peshmerga and Zeravani forces have been taking part in a major offensive against Islamic State near the city of Mosul in Iraq. A column of T-55 tanks could be seen moving towards the front line as they look to recapture a series of villages.

The military convoy was advancing towards the Khazir front, near Iraq’s second city of Mosul, which has been one of Islamic State’s (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) strongholds. The plan is to capture 10 abandoned Kurdish villages, which belonged to the Kakei and Shabak Kurdish minorities.

QUOTE

Around 5,000 Peshmerga and Zeravani special forces are taking part in the offensive, which started on Sunday, Kurdish media group Rudaw reported. The soldiers plan to split into eastern and western battle groups before carrying out the offensive.

They have plenty of military hardware at their disposal, with numerous T-55 tanks, as well as modernized Humvees and American M1117 Armored Security Vehicles to use in their campaign against the terrorist organization.

He's saying that because of the shorter barrel of the m4 the ammo has different characteristics as the NATO SS019 was originally intended for a 20 inch barrel

At normal engagement range in Afghanistan,a bullet from a m16 would penetrate through the guy instead of disabling him that's why the US military prefers the M4 in current theatres

yea... i understand the same too... so i was wondering whether is there any effort on msia's part to improve/modify the ammo used for their new m4... or are they using the same specs as used in the older m16s n augs?

QUOTE(atreyuangel @ May 31 2016, 03:44 AM)

18 ramd has become the para, just establish earlier this year. Iirc they were meant to be the heli para something.

air assault you mean?

QUOTE(MilitaryMadness @ May 31 2016, 09:50 AM)

What on earth do you mean? There's no such thing as 'M16 surplus rounds'. The 5.56mm NATO round IS the M16 round, it has always been so. All NATO weapons that use 5.56mm amo uses the M16's ammo. There are some specialist rounds like tracer, armor piercing or training ammo, but there is no such thing as "M16 rounds' or 'M4 rounds'. They are all the same.

the ori m16 round was not the m855... it was another lighter bullet called m193 albeit same size, 556... manufacturers of 556 ammo outside of nato dont always produce ammo with nato specs albeit their weapons are from nato countries and chambered for 556 nato rounds... even within nato, 556 nato rounds differs across manufacturers

m4s chambered for 556 nato was initially issued to american special operations type units, a lot of them use different bullet types due many issues with shorter barrel and as americans adopt it as standard issue there have been modifications the ori m855 being used when m16 was standard while still meeting nato's 556 standards..

not saying that rounds differ across both that weapons until they cant be chambered... they still can be use interchangeably but isnt it better to optimize the round to suit the weapon?

am not a master armorer.. just sharing opinion n trying to validate knowledge

A Japanese defence ministry spokeswoman declined to confirm the news reports.

The Musudan is believed to have a range of anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 kilometres. The lower range covers the whole of South Korea and Japan, while the upper range would include US military bases on Guam.

The missile has never been successfully flight-tested.

The three failures in April were seen as an embarrassment for the leadership, coming ahead of a party congress which was meant to celebrate the country's achievements.

During the congress, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un personally extended the offer of military dialogue with the South.

The proposal was repeated several times by the North's military, but Seoul dismissed all the overtures as insincere "posturing" given Kim's vow at the same congress to push ahead with the country's nuclear weapons programme.

BEIJING: China hopes to get relations with the Philippines back on track, President Xi Jinping has told new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, after ties were affected by an increasingly bitter spat over territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Xi sent a message to Duterte late on Monday congratulating him on his formal election victory, and said the two countries had a long history of friendly exchanges and a deep traditional friendship, China's Foreign Ministry said.

"The friendly, stable and healthy development of Sino-Philippine relations accords with the basic interests of both countries and both peoples," Xi was quoted as saying in the ministry statement.

Both countries had the responsibility to deepen cooperation, he said.

"(I) hope both sides can work hard to push Sino-Philippine relations back onto a healthy development track," Xi said.

China and the Philippines are locked in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which US$5 trillion worth of ship-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

Tension between the Philippines and China has risen as an international tribunal in the Hague prepares to deliver a ruling in the next few months in a case lodged by Manila in 2013.

The Philippines is seeking a clarification of United Nations maritime laws that could undermine China's claims to 90 percent of the South China Sea. China has rejected the court's authority.

not saying that rounds differ across both that weapons until they cant be chambered... they still can be use interchangeably but isnt it better to optimize the round to suit the weapon?

No, the usual practice is for the weapon to be optimized to suit the existing ammo. Not the other way around. The complaints about the M4 as having a larger muzzle flash, loud report and stronger recoil have all need to be solved by modifications on the weapon itself like better flash hiders, heavier barrels and an improved buffer spring, not by modifying the ammunition.

It's more reasonable and makes more economic sense to modify a few thousand weapons rather than retooling ammunition production to manufacture ammo to suit only those few thousand weapons.

Prime cuts of the ISOF Week Capabilities Demonstration Rehearsal. From May 23-26, 2016, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) hosts more than 12,000 attendees in Tampa, Florida for several events that comprise International Special Operations Forces Week. May 25th, 1330-1400 in the Tampa harbor behind the Tampa Convention Center. U.S. and International SOF will conduct a combined, tactical, scenario-driven demonstration. On May 24, U.S. and International SOF conducted a rehearsal.

No, the usual practice is for the weapon to be optimized to suit the existing ammo. Not the other way around. The complaints about the M4 as having a larger muzzle flash, loud report and stronger recoil have all need to be solved by modifications on the weapon itself like better flash hiders, heavier barrels and an improved buffer spring, not by modifying the ammunition.

It's more reasonable and makes more economic sense to modify a few thousand weapons rather than retooling ammunition production to manufacture ammo to suit only those few thousand weapons.

i see... probably that's the case for msia... considering msia got the m4 much later.. advantage of getting a matured platform

yea... i understand the same too... so i was wondering whether is there any effort on msia's part to improve/modify the ammo used for their new m4... or are they using the same specs as used in the older m16s n augs?air assault you mean?the standard 5.56mm nato round is aka ss019 / m855.. the standard specifies certain characteristics...

the ori m16 round was not the m855... it was another lighter bullet called m193 albeit same size, 556... manufacturers of 556 ammo outside of nato dont always produce ammo with nato specs albeit their weapons are from nato countries and chambered for 556 nato rounds... even within nato, 556 nato rounds differs across manufacturers

m4s chambered for 556 nato was initially issued to american special operations type units, a lot of them use different bullet types due many issues with shorter barrel and as americans adopt it as standard issue there have been modifications the ori m855 being used when m16 was standard while still meeting nato's 556 standards..

not saying that rounds differ across both that weapons until they cant be chambered... they still can be use interchangeably but isnt it better to optimize the round to suit the weapon?

am not a master armorer.. just sharing opinion n trying to validate knowledge

Malaysia uses M193s officially as the twist rate on the M4 can handle the lighter grain ammo fine while the M16A1 can't on the elongated and heavier NATO 5.56s but I don't know the specific load.but I think they are moving towards standard SS109 rounds as the FN minimi only takes that kind of ammo

The Aussies use heavier grain 5.56 rounds on their AUGs while the British underload their 5.56s

is the m193 optimum for the m4? because i think americans abandon that round long ago.. the last time i saw that was in cambodia, locally produced smoky junk...

i see... so the m16s msia had was the a1 variant?

yea... that's why i mean...

Ah okay sorry just checked with my sources.ATM moved away from the M193 after the M4 was standard issue and moved towards SS109(local designated G10).M193 is used for training only as there are still stockpiles of it.The US still have M193s in huge quantities in case of emergencies.

Optimum no.not so hot with the 1:7 M4 twist.ATM used some of the earlier models of the AR family.Vietnam war era stuff.M193 made by SME ordnance during that time were highly regarded(can't say the same for current stocks)

The Iraqi army launched its operation to recover Falluja a week ago, first by tightening a six-month-old siege around the city 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad

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A Shi’ite militia coalition known as Popular Mobilisation, or Hashid Shaabi, was seeking to consolidate the siege by dislodging militants from Saqlawiya, a village just to the north of Falluja

QUOTE

Between 500 and 700 militants are in Falluja, according to a US military estimate. The US-led coalition conducted three air strikes near Falluja over the past 24 hours, destroying fighting positions, vehicles, tunnel entrances and denying the militants access to terrain

QUOTE

Washington says Islamic State’s territory is steadily being rolled back both in Iraq and in Syria, where it has lost ground to US-backed, mainly Kurdish insurgents in the north and to the Russian-backed forces of President Bashar al-Assad

Syrian Army joins the race to Raqqa as several thousand soldiers pour into east Hama

Over the weekend, a massive convoy of soldiers from the Syrian Armed Forces traveled to the Hama-Raqqa border in order to take part in the upcoming offensive to liberate Raqqa City from the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).

According to an Al-Masdar field correspondent in Damascus, over 1,500 soldiers, mostly from the Desert Hawks and Syrian Marines, departed for the Hama-Raqqa countryside this weekend after the Syrian Arab Army’s High Command and their Russian military advisers issued orders to liberate Raqqa City.

The entire force is comprised of approximately 4,800-5,000 soldiers from the Syrian Marines, Desert Hawks Brigade, Golani Regiment, 550th Regiment of the 4th Mechanized Division, and Al-Ba’ath Battalions.

Due to several setbacks in the months of April and May, the Syrian Armed Forces are no longer inside the western countryside of the Al-Raqqa Governorate.

Instead, the large pro-government force can be seen at the imperative desert town of Ithriya, where they have already made the necessary preparations to strike the Islamic State terrorists.

This latest government offensive is expected to begin in the coming weeks, as more soldiers pour into the east Hama countryside in order to participate in this major assault.

A fire broke out at a major ammunitions depot in western India early Tuesday, causing fatalities, officials said. Local news reports said at least 17 army personnel were killed in the blaze.

The fire at the Pulgaon ammunitions depot started before dawn, said an official at the local police station, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.

Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister of Maharashtra state, where the depot is located, told reporters that the fire had caused a "massive loss of life and property."

New Delhi Television and other local media reported that 17 army personnel died in the fire, and that 19 other people were injured. NDTV also reported that about 1,000 villagers had been evacuated from around the area.

Fadnavis said that the state government was making "every resource" available to the army to help it control the situation, and was ensuring that all local hospitals were equipped to deal with the injured who were being brought in.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was "pained by loss of lives" in the fire and added that he had asked the defense minister to visit the site.

The Pulgaon ammunition depot, one of India's largest, is located in Maharastra state's Wardha district.

Ah okay sorry just checked with my sources.ATM moved away from the M193 after the M4 was standard issue and moved towards SS109(local designated G10).M193 is used for training only as there are still stockpiles of it.The US still have M193s in huge quantities in case of emergencies.

Optimum no.not so hot with the 1:7 M4 twist.ATM used some of the earlier models of the AR family.Vietnam war era stuff.M193 made by SME ordnance during that time were highly regarded(can't say the same for current stocks)

waa.. means the same round was used during the aug era... lol, i see... probably wataniah using it

have not seen any us troops using it during joint exercises... heard they say older ones are sold to civi (surplus) and national guard units of smaller states still using it too.. not too sure whether they are disposing it via the law enforcement depts..

i see, i thought MilitaryMadness says the m4 msia is designed based on current ammo issued...

Syrian Army joins the race to Raqqa as several thousand soldiers pour into east Hama

The entire force is comprised of approximately 4,800-5,000 soldiers from the Syrian Marines, Desert Hawks Brigade,Golani Regiment, 550th Regiment of the 4th Mechanized Division, and Al-Ba’ath Battalions.Due to several setbacks in the months of April and May, the Syrian Armed Forces are no longer inside the western countryside of the Al-Raqqa Governorate.

The biggest threat to the Kurdish fighters in the past have been ISIS vehicles laden with explosives and protected by sheets of metal welded onto their fronts and sides. This suicide bomber was in one of them, but before he could get close, the Peshmerga hit him with a Milan anti-tank missile, donated to the Kurds by Germany

QUOTE

A once-dreaded weapon capable of tearing huge holes in enemy defenses, the so-called vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) is at the mercy of the Western war effort supporting the Kurds at Mufti, a village in the Khazir section of the front on the approach to Mosul

As part of its campaign against the Islamic State, coalition forces are targeting oil infrastructure in IS territory. The oil, sold on the black market, is a crucial source of revenue for Islamic State. In the video above, a small bomb dramatically arcs into view and hits the target just a few feet from the bullseye.

The interesting thing about the video is how little damage the bomb does—it appears to disable the pump-jack, but little else. A 250-pound bomb—the smallest in the Coalition's arsenal—loaded with high explosive would have pulverized the pump-jack and the tractor parked nearby. One possibility is that the bomb is filled with concrete and not high explosive. This does the kinetic damage of a 250-pound bomb on a ballistic arc without the chemical explosion. The result is much less collateral damage. The US and its allies having been using concrete-filled bombs since 1999.

The oath of male and female 'yun-armists' (young soldiers) reads: 'I swear to aim for victories in studies and sports, to live a healthy lifestyle, to make myself prepared for the service and labour for the sake of the Motherland, to cherish the memory of the heroes who fought for freedom and independence of our Motherland, to be a patriot and a dignified citizen of Russia.'

Though the president-elect is notorious for his offhand comments, his remarks struck a chord in Malaysia, which just in 2013 had seen over 200 descendants of the sultanate attempting to assert the Philippine claim to Sabah, leaving dozens of militants, civilians and Malaysian security forces dead in what is termed the Lahad Datu Incident. After Duterte’s statement, Malaysia’s foreign ministry reiterated the country’s position that it did not recognize any claims by any party on Sabah, while Sabah’s chief minister Musa Aman dismissed the claim as “irrelevant.”

waa.. means the same round was used during the aug era... lol, i see... probably wataniah using it

have not seen any us troops using it during joint exercises... heard they say older ones are sold to civi (surplus) and national guard units of smaller states still using it too.. not too sure whether they are disposing it via the law enforcement depts..

i see, i thought MilitaryMadness says the m4 msia is designed based on current ammo issued...

haih... diff ammo type keep have to tukar2 gas port

Augs have 1:9 twist and didn't have problems with the M193s. Last I saw American M193s, the Afghans were using them. The ammo was probably 25 years old by then but the rifles they were using were older than me

Again according to the manuals current M16/M4 family can be used with the M193s and the reported problems of the M4 with the M193 could be because of the age of the ammo.

The Malaysian SMEO M4 is a direct copy of the colt M4 just different markings. Early models were just disassembled colts Assembled by SMEO people(something any armourer could do).

What is the current SAR-21 in service? Didn't have good impressions with the earlier versions

KATWIJK, the Netherlands — Its wings beating against a gathering breeze, the eagle moves gracefully through a cloudy sky, then swoops, talons outstretched, on its prey below.

The target, however, is not another bird but a small drone, and when the eagle connects, there is a metallic clunk. With the device in its grasp, the bird of prey returns to the ground.

At a disused military airfield in the Netherlands, hunting birds like the eagle are being trained to harness their instincts to help combat the security threats stemming from the proliferation of drones.

The birds of prey learn to intercept small, off-the-shelf drones — unmanned aerial vehicles — of the type that can pose risks to aircraft, drop contraband into jails, conduct surveillance or fly dangerously over public events.

The thought of terrorists using drones haunts security officials in Europe and elsewhere, and among those who watched the demonstration at Valkenburg Naval Air Base this month was Mark Wiebes, a detective chief superintendent in the Dutch police.

Mr. Wiebes described the tests as “very promising,” and said that, subject to a final assessment, birds of prey were likely to be deployed soon in the Netherlands, along with other measures to counter drones. The Metropolitan Police Service in London is also considering using trained birds to fight drones.

The Dutch have experimented with other methods, such as jamming drone signals, capturing drones in nets fired by defender drones or shooting them out of the sky with buckshot.

Augs have 1:9 twist and didn't have problems with the M193s. Last I saw American M193s, the Afghans were using them. The ammo was probably 25 years old by then but the rifles they were using were older than me

Again according to the manuals current M16/M4 family can be used with the M193s and the reported problems of the M4 with the M193 could be because of the age of the ammo.

The Malaysian SMEO M4 is a direct copy of the colt M4 just different markings. Early models were just disassembled colts Assembled by SMEO people(something any armourer could do).

What is the current SAR-21 in service? Didn't have good impressions with the earlier versions

lelz... afghans.. shoot macam rambo..

nopez... dont think have got any issue with the m193

so it was based on the us army's m4 or m4a1? initially a lot of problems as well

same old same old... changed some parts but no big diff... care to share why?

The MBT Advanced Technology Demonstrator showcases upgrades for current tanks.

By Kyle MizokamiMay 30, 2016

The MBT Advanced Technology Demonstrator, seen in this new video, takes a widely available older tank design and upgrades it with a host of new tech.

The tank in the video is an upgraded Leopard 2A4. (Ignore the annoying quick cuts at first—they go away after a while.) The -A4 was the most manufactured of the Leopard 2 series of tanks, with 2,570 built for Germany and the Netherlands between 1985 and 1992. After the Cold War ended, many A4s were sold off to other NATO countries including Canada, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey, where they still serve today.

In other words, there are a lot of A4s out there that could use upgrades— and upgrades are on NATO's mind, with the recent introduction of Russia's brand-new T-14 Armata tank. The teaser video is short on details, but a few things stand out.

The tank armor appears to be modular, so individual sections can be replaced after sustaining battle damage. Although there's no obvious "hard-kill" active protection system against anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades, this report by The National Interest says such a system will definitely make it onto upgraded Leopard 2 tanks.

The tank is studded with cameras, giving the crew much greater situational awareness. The tall, coffee can-sized cylinder on top of the turret appears to be a commander's independent thermal viewer, allowing the commander to scan the battlefield at night and through smoke, and line up targets for the gunner who has his own thermal viewer.

The demonstrator's turret is enormous, much larger than the A4 turret, with the overhang on the opposite side of the gun having grown the most. This is likely to cope with carrying larger main gun rounds, and also to act as a counterweight on the other side of the turret to a long, heavy main gun barrel.

Interestingly, that's exactly what the MBT Demonstrator doesn't have: a long barrel. It appears to have a standard 120-millimeter L44 caliber tank gun. (The 44 refers to the length of the barrel, which is the diameter times 44. That makes 5,280 millimeters, or 17 feet, 4 inches.) That the barrel is 17 feet long and still looks puny gives an idea of just how big the turret is. Rheinmetall is currently working on a 130-millimeter tank gun it will unveil this summer.

Russia's recent aggression in the Crimea and intimidation campaigns from Scandinavia to the Black Sea have NATO spooked, and looking to upgrade their tank arsenals. Whatever new tech makes it onto the MBT Demonstrator will almost certainly be retrofitted to existing European (and Canadian) tank fleets.

all looks good... cant they remove the suspenders? wont it get in the way during operations?

also rank badge on both sleeves?

You're funny. The shoulder boards can be detached la of course if wanna put on or remove webbing harness. It is held by as single button....or never seen shoulder boards on a military uniform before izzit?

Legacy of the British Army, ATM wear ranks on both sleeves, unlike US military who wear rank on left sleeve only.

You're funny. The shoulder boards can be detached la of course if wanna put on or remove webbing harness. It is held by as single button....or never seen shoulder boards on a military uniform before izzit?

Legacy of the British Army, ATM wear ranks on both sleeves, unlike US military who wear rank on left sleeve only.

It was at a void deck in Sembawang that the group which came to be known as the Islamic State in Bangladesh (ISB) began in January.

Its leader, Bangladeshi draftsman Rahman Mizanur, 31, met three of his countrymen - Miah Rubel, 26; Zzaman Daulat, 34; and Sohag Ibrahim, 27 - and discussed the arrests late last year of 27 of their compatriots who were found to be radicalised. Were there any other militant groups here, Rahman asked. It was not known what the replies were.

The four then swore an oath to follow Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi until their deaths.

They were part of a group of six Bangladeshis charged last Friday under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, for providing or collecting money to fund terrorist acts in their home country.

Miah and Jabath were also accused of possessing money for these terrorist purposes.

The remaining two men - Zzaman Daulat, 34, and Mamun Leakot Ali, 29 - have denied the charges. A pre-trial conference for them has been set for June 9.

The six men are part of a group of eight workers in the construction and marine industries detained under the Internal Security Act in April. The other detainees are Sohag and Islam Shariful, 27.

The court heard yesterday that Rahman was radicalised in Bangladesh last April, after meeting a man there - identified as Jahangir Alam - who gave him ISIS-related documents. Rahman's dream was to be an ISIS fighter, but he failed thrice to get a visa to travel to Turkey and Algeria. He then came to Singapore to work last December.

After the January meeting in Sembawang, there were six more meetings before Rahman was arrested on March 29, the court heard.

During these meetings, the ISB took shape and other members were recruited - including Hossain Shamim, who has since left Singapore and not been arrested.

The court heard that the men wanted to wage "an armed jihad", and to find and kill non-believers when they returned to Bangladesh.

They drew up a list of targets - including the police, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists - and agreed to begin in Bangladesh's northern Panchagarh district.

Money was needed to buy food, firearms and knives for the campaign, so the members agreed they would give part of their salary to the cause, said the prosecution.

To avoid detection, Rahman discussed using fake names at a March meeting, and shared a five-page document on counter-surveillance methods, court documents showed.

Each man had a clear role. They were led by Rahman, with Mamun as the group's deputy leader. Miah was in the financial council, while Sohag handled its legal matters.

Jabath and Islam were both in the media council, while Zzaman and Sohel were in the group's security and fighter councils respectively.

Court documents also showed that ISB had raised $1,360.

Yesterday, the prosecution sought a three-week adjournment to prepare submissions for sentencing, adding that it would be pressing for a deterrent sentence.

The four convicted men will next appear in court on June 21.

The prosecution said the six accused, who are unrepresented, did not say if they wanted legal counsel.

BEIJING: One Chinese United Nations peacekeeper has been killed, and four injured, after an attack in Mali, China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, calling for an investigation into the incident to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Soldiers of a United Nations peacekeeping mission have been stationed in northern Mali, along with French forces, for three years since separatists joined jihadists to seize the region from the government in Bamako.

The militants have staged several high profile attacks in the past year, not only in Mali but also in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.

A peace accord signed last year was meant to bring stability to the region, but attacks against the U.N. mission, Malian military and civilians are still frequent.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China urged the Mali government and the United Nations to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"This is a grave and intolerable crime. China strongly condemns it," Hua told a daily news briefing, describing the incident as a terrorist attack on the U.N. peacekeeping mission.

She did not say who China thought was behind the attack.

China now has more than 2,400 peacekeepers in Mali and other African countries, she said, adding that the country would continue to positively contribute to U.N. peacekeeping missions to help ensure peace and stability in Africa.

China will contribute a tenth of the budget for U.N. peacekeeping operations between 2016 and 2018, slightly behind the United States, the U.N.'s peacekeeping chief told the country's official Xinhua news agency on Sunday.

Five U.N. peacekeepers from Togo were also killed and one person was seriously injured in an ambush in central Mali on Sunday.

Armies in the last 200 years or so have used suspenders in combat, AFAIK nobody complained they 'got in the way' also. Many countries also still use them.

Even US military used ALICE rig until the 1980s. It's still used in training and reserve use. I find wearing a bulky vest in place of a belt/harness system will 'get in the way' even more. Much less freedom of movement and soldier will get hot even more.

Russia to Show Infauna Warfare Vehicle to Foreign Clients at KADEX-2016

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC) will present its multirole electronic warfare vehicle Infauna to foreign customers for the first time during the upcoming KADEX-2016 military hardware exhibition, press service of the corporation said Wednesday.

"The United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation will for the first time introduce the complex Infauna to foreign audience at KADEX 2016 international exhibition," the company said.

The development of the UIMC's Infauna began in 2005 and finished in 2009. In 2011, the first vehicle was ready to be delivered to the Russian army. In January 2012, four Infauna vehicles were delivered to the Russian airborne units of electronic warfare.

"We see a growing interest on the part of foreign customers in our electronic warfare equipment, including Infauna. The product significantly expands the protection range covers of the mobile objects from radio-controlled mines and guaranteed inhibits communication and control of the enemy," UIMC Deputy CEO Sergei Skokov said.

US ‘provocations’ may force China to declare air defense zone in S. China Sea

QUOTE

Beijing is reportedly planning to launch an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea, the timing of which will depend on US “provocations.” Billions of dollars of trade passes annually through the area, which is subject to rival claims.

A source close to China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) told the South China Morning Post daily that security conditions in the region, namely the US military presence, would define the timing of the ADIZ declaration.

Submarines of Project 636.3, also known as Varshavyanka, were developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau.

There are already four submarines of this project in the Russian Navy’s (Black Sea Fleet) combat strength. The lead submarine - the Novorossiysk, was delivered to the Russian Navy in August 2014. The second submarine in the series - the Rostov-on-Don - was delivered on December 30, 2014. In late 2015, it launched the Kalibr cruise missiles to destroy facilities of the Islamic State terrorist organization (outlawed in Russia) from a position in the Mediterranean Sea.

The third submarine - the Stary Oskol - has been serving in the Russian Navy since July 2015. The Krasnodar submarine - the fourth in the series, was handed over to the Navy on November 5, 2015. The fifth Varshavyanka-class submarine for the Black Sea Fleet, dubbed the Veliky Novgorod, was launched on March 18. The fifth and sixth submarines are planned to be delivered to the Black Sea Fleet this year.

Type 636 submarines are designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface-ship warfare (ASuW) and also for general reconnaissance and patrol missions. The Type 636 submarine is considered to be to be one of the quietest diesel submarines in the world. It is said to be capable of detecting an enemy submarine at a range three to four times greater than it can be detected itself.

The drone lost contact with the ground station during a test flight and crashed into the sea during the late morning of 31 May 2016, 20 minutes into the flight. The prototype Piaggio Aerospace P.1HH HammerHead Unmanned Aerial System was operating from Vincenzo Florio Airport, Trapani, Sicily.

The P.1HH HammerHead is a full-sized, medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) developed by Piaggio Aero Industries. The HammerHead UAS was derived from the P.180 Avanti II commercial aircraft.

The P.1HH HammerHead is designed to comply with STANAG USAR 4671 standards. The UAS integrates a large fuselage housing several combinations of payloads.

The aircraft is designed with three lifting surfaces configuration (3 LSC) and high aspect ratio laminar wings, along with increased wing span, to make it more flexible and carry greater weight.

The UAS has a span of 15.6m, length of 14.4m and overall height of 3.98m. The maximum take-off weight of the UAS is 6,146kg.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry has said a recent row over its islets near Singapore has "basically been resolved".

At a press conference on Wednesday (Jun 1), Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir played down the row over Pulau Manis, telling media outlets such as Metrotvnews.com it was due to a mistake by the group Funtasy Island Development, which is building a resort on the islets.

"The mistake has been corrected," he added.

Funtasy Island Development had uploaded a map of its eco-resort that marked Pulau Manis in blue, the same colour as Singapore. It has since changed the colour of the islets to red on the website map, one of the colours on the Indonesian flag.

By this point though, Indonesian army and navy personnel had already been dispatched from a local base to the resort to place the country's flag on the highest point of one of the islands.

Indonesian media reports also quoted local tourism chief Guntur Sakti as saying he had sent a warning to Singapore over the map, while Indonesian parliament speaker Ade Komaruddin told news website Tribunnews that "our sovereignty must be upheld".

Both governments moved quickly to defuse the situation, with Singapore's foreign ministry saying it was "deeply puzzled" by the Indonesian reports, as the Republic "has never disputed Indonesia's sovereignty over Pulau Manis".

Funtasy Island Development did not respond to a request for comment. Its development on Pulau Manis, which is 16 kilometres from Singapore and near the Indonesian island of Batam, is described on its website as the world's biggest eco park, where visitors can stay in villas near dolphins and enjoy nature trails and water sports.

This is the final version of the Tiger stripe uniform.subdued rank in worn on the chest with sleeve pockets.basically what everyone was wearing before going to the digital pattern which has the same layout except for the slanted pockets

Some units have Velcro on top and above the pockets for mission patches